Seal for liquid agitating means



July 10, 1934. R F GOECKE 1,965,698

SEAL FOR LIQUID AGITATING MEANS Filed March 2, 1952 Y Y INEN TOR Mgfbww@ f ZLSATTORNEY Patented July 10, 1934 UNTED STTS SEAL FOR VLIQUID AGITATING DEANS Rudolph F. Goecke, Elyria, Ohio, assigner to The Pfaudler Co., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 2,

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to liquid agitating means and has for its object to provide more particularly improvements in the method of mounting the agitating means for operation in a tank or receptacle containing the liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in shaft mountings designed to permit of adjustment of the shaft to properly aline or center its axis with respect to other parts with which it is associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide relatively adjustable devices or elements for supporting a'shaft for operation through an opening in the wall of a receptacle of larger diameter than the shaft, said devices being arranged for alinement one with another and one forming means for sealing and unsealing the opening surrounding the shaft without shifting or disturbing the position of the latter when once adjusted to the 2o desired position with respect to the opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved liquid agitating means which may be inserted through the bottom, side, or top walls of a receptacle, either above or below the liquid level, comprising a construction embodying parts which may be adjusted or removed from the exterior of the receptacle to permit certain interior portions of the device and the receptacle to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized Without dismantling the major parts of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for effectively sealing and unsealing an opening in the wall of a liquid holding receptacle surrounding a shaft extending into the receptacle through the opening comprising relatively movable parts one of which is arranged to be permanently adjusted to a predetermined service position while an additional part or parts are made adjustable whereby access may be had to surfaces Within the receptacle for the purpose of cleaning and sterilizing the same from time to time without dismantling or shifting the position of the shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in agitating means affording a compact, efcient, and economical construction comprising relatively few parts which can be readily adjusted and brought to proper operating relation one with respect to another.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as Will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawing:

CAD

1932, Serial No. 596,282

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional elevation of an arrangement embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2li-2a of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed section taken through the shaft bushing mounted within the opening of the tank, certain parts of which are shown removed.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The present invention relates to improvements in liquid treating apparatusand more particularly to an improved arrangement for supporting and operating suitable agitating means within a liquid holding tank which is operated through gg the wall thereof and constructed in such a manner that by adjustment of one or more parts of the device an opening may be readily provided through which a cleaning implement can be inserted or a suitable cleaning fluid or liquid ingg troduced into the tank for maintaining the agitating means and other parts or surfaces exposed to the liquid in proper sanitary condition.

The invention further provides an improved arrangement for mounting the driving shaft of the agitating means whereby relative adjustments may be afforded between different .parts thereof so that the axis of one may be properly alined with respect to that of another. Furthermore the invention provides improved closing means for the tank opening through which the shaft extends which is so constructed as to afford a liquid tight joint. between the shaft and tank wall. These improvements are especially designed for use in connection with the stirring, agitating or working of differentA liquids or semi-liquid materials such, for example, as milk or other liquid food products Where it is desired to agitate the liquid while processing the same. However the invention is not limited to a mountingarrangef ment for agitator shafts, but may be advantageously employed in other forms of construction where different kinds of power driven shafts are to be mounted for operation.

In the drawing, l0 represents a portion of a tank or other receptacle of any preferred design such, for example, as a milk holding tank in which the milk or other liquid is to be stirred or agitated. The tank wall shown may constitute a portion of one of the side or end walls of the tank, which in the present embodiment extends at an inclination to the horizontal and has anV outwardly projecting flanged portionV 11 to which is secured an annular ange 12 united with the anged portion 11 preferably by welding as indi- 110 understood that the horizontal portion 20 of the bracket 19 is cut away at 20a sufliciently to allow for the movement of the handles to the extreme outer position required. It will be understood, however, that while it is desirable to provide handles of the type shown, they may, if preferred, be omitted and the rings unscrewed by employing suitable means for turning them to release position.

The bushing can be inserted through a suitable opening in the wall of the tank and positioned within the flange 12, after which the washer 39 and nut 38 can be readily applied. The shaft .is inserted through the bushing and the rings 45 and 4'7 which, together with the packing after being placed upon the shaft can be screwed into position when the bushing has been properly adjusted. The bracket 19 can be applied to the support 16 after the latter has been properly adjusted and secured to the tank. In mounting the frame or support 16 upon the tank its front face may be .readily adjusted to occupy a plane substantially at a right angle to the axis of the shaft opening in the wall of the v tank by placing suitable shims, not shown, be-

tween the lugs 14 on the tank and the projections 15 of the support.

It will be understood that the weight of the agitator and the resulting thrust produced 'by the operation of the agitator' within the liquid.

will be taken up by the spaced bearings 25, shown more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

In order to be able to clean and sterilize the bushing and the agitator shaft without disij mantling or removing either the bushing or the shaft, the ring 47 is unscrewed and moved outwardly along the shaft, after which the ring 45 is likewise unscrewed and moved outwardly also. 'Ihe withdrawal of these parts will free the opening 44 between the bushing and shaft which is large enough to permit the shaft to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized as by means of a brush or other suitable implement and by the use of hot water, steam, or any suitable cleansing n; compound or sterilizing agent which it may be desired to introduce through the opening. Both the shaft and the interior surfaces of the bushing as well as other surfaces within the tank can be quickly and satisfactorily cleaned and j sterilized from time to time without the expense and loss of time required in dismantling, removing, or disturbing the shaft and mountings therefor and reassembling and adjusting the same. The rings 45 and 47 when unscrewed and the bore i of the bushing may also be readily cleaned and sterilized by the use of any suitable means, ernployed in any desired manner.

The inner face of the flange 35 of the bushing 34 is substantially coextensive with the surrounding wall of the receptacle whereby to afford a smooth surface at this point which can be easily cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition. The joint between the flange and the wall of the tank may be rendered liquid tight, in case a metal receptacle is used,by soldering or welding the same, or by any other suitable method. Where an enamel or glass lined receptacle is employed the joint may be made liquid tight by means of a rubber or other suitable gasket and the use of cement or other desirable material, not shown.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle having an opening in its wall surrounded by a flange, a shaft of less diameter than the opening extending therethrough into the recep.

tacle, a bushingY seated upon the wall of the receptacle within the opening and encircling the shaftin spaced relation thereto toaiford a passage around the shaft, a nut adjustable upon the bushing, a washer interposed between the nut and the flange and having a spherical seat for the nut, radially extending screws carried by the washer having their inner ends engaging the flange, said screws being adjustable to aline the axis of the bushing with the axis of the shaft and said nut when tightened serving to clamp the bushing upon the wall of the receptacle, and means adjustable upon the bushing for closing said passage including packing encircling the shaft within the bushing.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a liquid holding receptacle having an opening in its wall, a shaft extending through the opening, a bushing seated upon the wall of the receptacle within the opening and encircling the shaft in spaced relation thereto to afford a passage around the shaft for the introduction of cleaning means within the reoeptacleya recessed member surrounding the shaft and adjustable within the bushing to and from closing position relative to said passage, packing engaging the shaft within said member, and means adjustable on said member for securing the packing therein.

'3. In apparatus of the class described, a liquid holding receptacle having an opening in its wall, 1j

a bushingsecured within said opening and encircling the shaft in spaced relation thereto to afford a passage around the shaft for the introduction of cleaning means within the receptacle,

a recessed member detachably mounted within rounding the latter within said recessed member and detachably secured therein.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a liquid holding receptacle provided with an opening having an annular flange surrounding the opening, a shaft extending through the opening, a bushing within the flange encircling the shaft in spaced relation thereto to afford a passage around the shaft for the introduction of cleaning means within the tank, said bushing having a laterally extending flange-like portion seated upon and substantially flush with the portion of the wall of the receptacle immediately surrounding the opening, means detachably securing the bushing within said flange, a recessed member surrounding the shaft within the bushing and adjustable therein to and from closing position relative to said passage, and means for sealing the joint between the shaft and said member.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a liquid holding receptacle provided with an opening in -l its wall and having an annular flange surrounding the opening, a shaft extending through the opening in spaced relation to the flange, a bushing within the flange having a laterally extending flange-like portion seated upon and substanfil for the shaft threadedwithin the recessed member.

6. In apparatus of the class described,va liquid holding receptacle provided with an opening in its wall and having an annular flange surrounding the opening, a shaft extending through the opening in spaced relation to the flange, a bushing within the iiange having a laterally extending flange-like portion seated upon and substantially flush with the portion of the wall of the receptacle immediately surrounding the opening, said bushing having an inwardly extending annular shoulder, a nut on the outer end of the bushing for clamping the latter upon the wall of the receptacle, a recessed member threaded within the bushing and seated upon the shoulder of the latter, packing encircling the shaft within said recessed member adapted to seal the jointv between the latter and the shaft, a bearing for the shaft threaded within the recessed member, a ring shaped member on the flange of the receptacle forming a seat for the nut, and adjustable means interposed between the flange and said ring shaped member adapted to move the nut and bushing transverselyof the axis of thefshaft.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle provided with an opening and having an annular flange surrounding the same, a bushing Within the opening having its inner end seated upon the Wall of the receptacle and having its outer end projecting through the flange', a nut on the outer end/of the bushing forV clamping the latter upon the receptacle, said bushing having an inwardly extending annular shoulder, a recessed member threaded within the bushing and havingr its inner end seated upon the shoulder and provided with a-shaft opening, and a bearing for the shaft threaded within the recessed member and cooperating therewith to form. a pocket for the reception of packing for sealing the joint between the shaft and the recessed member.

8. In apparatus of the class described,` a receptacle provided with an opening and having an annular flange surrounding the same, a bushing within the opening having its inner end seated upon. the Wall of the receptacle and having its outer end projecting through the ange, a ring shaped member abutting the outer end of the flange, a nut threaded on the outer end of the bushing and seated upon said ring shaped member, means for moving the ring shaped member and nut. laterally of the` axis of the opening to adjust the bushing transversely ofv said axis, a recessed member threaded within the bushing and provided with a shaft opening', and a bearing for the shaft threaded within the` recessed member and cooperating therewith to form a pocket for the reception of packing for sealing the joint between the shaft and the recessed member.

RUDOLPH F. GOECKE.. 

